Northern California Bluegrass Society provides this CD review. You can find our most current reviews on our Message Board, where you can comment or query the author directly. Our monthly magazine, Bluegrass By the Bay also publishes them.

Songs:
Tomorrow I'll Be Gone
I've Waited Too Late
Muleskinner Blues
Days Gone By
Martha White Theme
Let Me Be Your Friend
Cumberland Gap
Gonna Walk The Streets of Gold
You're Still the Rose of My Heart
I Live In The Past
You Live in A World All Your Own
A Waltz For Carolyn
In Despair
Where's Your Still Uncle Bill
Have You Come To Say Goodbye
Call On His Name

Hay Holler Records HH-1353
P.O. Box 868
Blacksburg, VA 24063
@2000

Personnel:
Tommy Sells, mandolin
Jeff Michael, fiddles, guitar, banjo, vocals
Teresa Sells, guitar, vocals
Larry Pennington, banjo
Alan Mastin, bass

In the liner notes to the CD, J.D. Higgins states, "If you love traditional bluegrass music, every cut on this recording will make you smile or put tears in your eyes. This is as good as it gets." The album is packed with good traditional sounds and the multi-talented Jeff Michael stands out as lead vocalist and versatile instrumentalist. There's hard driving instrumental in Cumberland Gap and a great rendition of Mule Skinner Blues complete with yodeling. The group has several gospel numbers and their tight blended harmonies really give emotional punch to these songs. Jeff Michael's "I've Waited Too Late," and "Gonna Walk The Streets of Gold" fit the genre perfectly and may become a bluegrass classics in years to come. The strong banjo of Larry Pennington is shines throughout and is balanced by strong fiddle and mandolin playing by the rest of the group.